Page 173 - Brita News Today

In august 2005, a powerful category 3 hurricane named katrina slams into the gulf coast, paralyzing southern louisiana and parts of mississippi. the massive storm floods communities and destroys entire neighborhoods. katrina causes more than $100 billion in damage and kills more than 1,800 people. just weeks later, louisiana is hit again, along with texas, as hurricane rita, a category 3 storm, makes landfall. after witnessing katrina, millions flee to escape rita. one of the largest evacuations...

Management division. theres a big mandatory evac -- evacuation. there was a concern about rita and how bad and hard it was for people to get out. what are the challenges in florida for evacuation of this size? >> just the sheesh number of people and the limited evacuation routes. thats why we tell people move inland. you only need to go tense of miles. but many people try to travel north on limited highways. and part of the reason we have to evacuate while the sun is shining is to give people pl...

Had andrew, then we had i think storms like katrina and rita in the gulf of mexico back in 2005. but we really havent seen a storm like irma. so its extremely dangerous, especially with the path that its projected to go through the bahamas and threaten florida. also a very large storm. >> it bears repeating what you just said, this is the strongest storm in the atlantic that we have ever seen. and its getting stronger. is it getting stronger because its going over warmer water as it approaches t...

Have had storms like katrina and rita in the gulf of mexico back in 2005, but we really havent seen a storm like irma. so its extremely dangerous. especially with the path that its projected to go through the bahamas and threaten florida. also a very large storm. >> yeah. bears repeating what you just said this is the strongest storm in the atlantic that we have ever seen. and its getting stronger. is it getting stronger because its going over warmer water as it approaches the u.s.? >> yes. that...

The 914 millibars which is the lowest its been and were continuing to see winds measured directly by the aircraft in the range of 150 to 160 knots at the surface in the eye wall which is over 180 miles per hour. so this is a legitimate category 5 hurricane. theres -- you really cant overhype this storm. its the strongest storm that has ever formed in this part of the atlantic. weve had cat 5s that have formed further to the west, closer to miami. of course, we had andrew then we have had storms ...

Job. if you let us know we can help the retailers have the information. >> is there concern if people try to leave the keys and miami-dade county you will see a serious traffic issue like houston saw years ago during rita? >> if you listen to the evacuation orders, theyll be given in a timely manner so people have time to evacuate. but if you wait, thats where the problem is going to happen. whether its highway patrol, local law enforcement, dot. well try to keep all the evacuation routes open a...

We have to know -- i know the retailers want to do their job. if you let us know, we can help the retailers make sure they have the information. >> is there concern that as people try to leave the keys, try to leave miami-dade, you will see a serious traffic issue kind of like houston saw years ago during rita? >> if you listen to the evacuation orders, they are given in a timely manner so people have time to evacuate. if you wait, thats where the problem is go -- thats going to happen. whether ...

I know the retailers want to do their job. but if you let us know, then we can help the retailers know they have the information. >> is there a concern as people try to leave the keys and miami-dade county youll see a serious traffic issue kind of like houston saw years ago during rita? >> if you listen to the evacuation orders. evacuation orders are going to be given in a timely manner so people have time to evacuate. but if you wait, thats where the problem is going to happen. whether its high...

Available to these folks? >> reporter: right. its overwhelming. where do you go? how do you decide? if your house was everything to you and you have everything in it, where do you go? we have people here who worked with other disasters to make those decisions. they will keep this shelter open as long as they need to. what they start working with the folk that is are here, they work with them early to start figuring out that path forward, look at the paperwork and helping them so there isnt a day...

Volunteers coming in. they come in in three different shifts, even an overnight shift. theyve had people showing up here. we got updated numbers for this location in particular. where they said that theyre currently over 1700 people that are here in this facility currently. not only are they getting a place to sleep, showers, food, all of those things that you need. but theyre also getting help from fema. theyre also computers in here to help them work out what their next steps are. they really ...